Spring-wheel.



PFC 81 SAMUEL F. WALKER AND GUY HUNTER, OF .'BOZEMAN, MONTANA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

- i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial Nim 555,610.

Be it known that we, SAMUEL F. 'WALKER and GUY HUNTER, citizens of the' United States, residing at Bozeman, in the county of Gallatin and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvemeuts in Spring-VVheels, of which the following is a specification. i

The present invention contemplates the provision of a vehicle wheel of novel st-ructure involving spring-spokes, of such construction and arrangement as to admit of the rim of the wheel yielding so as to absorb shock and vibration,' with the result that the wear and tear upon the vehicle is reduced and the comfortof the passenger or person occupying the vehicle assured.

The invention consists primarily of spring spokes of peculiar formation and novel connecting means for uniting 'the spokes both to the hub and to the rim, 1the parts being designed With a view' to durability and ease of replacement should any of the elements become unfitted for further effective service' The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combina- ,tion of parts, which hereinafter will be more part-icularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the application, F igure l is a view in elevation' of a vehicle wheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a det'ail cross sec-l tion on the line 03% of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a' sectional detail of the rim portion of the wheel on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the hub on a larger Scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The wheel while adapted for general use lis designed most especially for automobiles and mechanically propelled Vehicles, since it neutralizes shock and vibration and reduces the. wear upon the working parts to the smallest amount possible.

The wheel in its general construction.

coinprises a hub, a rim and spring spokes connecting the hub and rim. The spring spokes 1 are .flat and tapered and Curved in their length, the outer ends of the spokes tended base as well as securing means for' 4fastening the spokes to the hub. By having the` spokes curved throughout their' length they are adapted to yield whensubjected to Vertical or endwise pressure and 'by having the spokes tapered throughout their width they present a practically uniforrn strength and resistance to end thrust. The bent ends 2 enable the` outer ends of the spokes to 'obtain ample bearing against the rim so as to prevent cutting or becoming embedded therein, while at 4the same time providing attarching means for securing the spokes to the rim.

The hub 4 is provided upon its exterior Wit-h transverse grooves 5 in which the inner ends of the spokes 1 are fitted. Cap rings 6 fit-ted to the ends'of the hub have their rims constructed to 'engage over the lateral projections 3 of the spokes so as to confine the latter in the grooves or seats 5; Bolts 7 pass through registering openings fo'rmed in the cap rings 6 andin the hub 4 and serve to hold the said cap rings in place. The bolts 7 are located intermediate of the spokes. Ball bearings are provided at opposite ends of the hub and may be of any construction.

The rim, of the wheel comprises a U-shaped ring 8 and a tire 9, which latter may be of any material. The U-shaped ring v8 receives the outer bent ends 2 of the spokes,

which are secured therein by means of filling pieces 10, which preferably consist of wood or aluminum. The filling pieceslO are of uniform length and extend across the spaces forme-d between the oiiter ends of adjacent spokes. One end of each filling piece is inclined, as shown at 11, to engage the straight side of the spoke, whereas the opposite end is cut away, as indicated at 12, to provide clearance for the bentend 2 of the spokes. Bolts 13 pass through transversely alined openings formed in the side flangestofjh ring 8 and through openings formed vin the end portions of the filling pieces. By having one end 12 of each of the filling pieces engage under the bent end 2 of a spoko and the inclined end 11 of the adjacent filling piece engage the straight side of the spoke the latter is confined at its outer end between the ends of adj acent filling pieces and by locating `the.bo1ts or' fastenings 13 near the ends 'of th'e filling pieces the connection' throughout their length and having the of the parts is'; made more secure.

In the event of it being necessary to replace any of the spokes the cap rings 6 may be easily vmoved outward and two of the filling pieccs 10 adj acent the spoke to be re-f placed 'may be quickly removed so that the spoke to 'be replaced may be easily and quickly removed and substitution made.

From'the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyi'ng 'drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be` readily apparent to those skilled in `the art to which the invention appertains, and while we havetdescribed the principl'e of operation of the invention, together with the device which we now x consider vto be the emp bodiment thereof, we desire -to have it understood that thedevioe shown is mer'ely illustratve, and that such. changes may be ,made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

' `Having thus described the nvention what I is claimed as new, is

In a vehicle wheel, the'combination of a rim of substantially U form, spokes curved outer terminal portions bent at'obtuse angles and fitting against the inner side 'of the tread portion of the rim, filling pieces of like formation arranged in the space of the rim and between the outer ends of the i spokes, the'ends of the fillng piece's being of the spokes, one end of each filling piece being cut away to receive the bent end of `a spoke which is retained in place by the opposing end of the adjacent ,filling piece,

and fastenings passing through the side flanges of the rim and the filling pieces to secure them ;and the spokes together.

In test-imony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.`

f SAMUEL F. WALKER.

i GUY HUNTER.

lVitnesSes:

' WM. HocK'nR,

.WM.CUSH1NG.

inclined to a'butv against the inclined ends- 

